Throughout high school, I placed my identity in sports and friends. I played four years of football and ran four years of track. Football gave me a sense of purpose in life. I was a part of something bigger than myself, and I fully bought into that. I rarely missed an offseason workout or practice throughout my four years. When my senior year of football ended, it was weird. The one purpose in my life was now over. I was lost, and as a result, I was going through the motions in my life. I started to have hope, one last track season and my senior year to enjoy. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit the US. My school was shut down, and so was my track season. I was devastated by this; it seemed like my life was being ripped away from me. It caused me to reflect on my life. As a result, one day, this random word popped into my head. This word was “sin,” I defined it as “Things I do that God doesn’t like.” 

I started to reflect on every possible way I sinned in my 17 years on Earth. I came up with a long list, ranging from being addicted to pornography, idolizing worldly possessions, and chasing a body image that pleased others. These sins put a physical weight onto my shoulders. I needed to remove it but didn’t know how to. Conveniently, it was around Easter time. My Mom found a new church that had an online Easter service. She forced my family to watch it, although I didn’t want to. In that service, I learned about Jesus for the first time. I learned he died on the cross to pay for my sins. When I realized that it was incredible. The weight got lifted off of my shoulders. This brought me back to the church. 

When I got to college, my life got more broken. I went through a toxic and sinful relationship; I had no friends and no purpose in life. In January 2021, I started reading the Bible for the first time. My church challenged me to read specific verses daily, and I did. I was amazed and became hungry for God’s word. I started learning and seeking God for who he is. Then I discovered Matthew 22:37, the great commandment. Love God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. I started to reflect, “Was I loving God with everything?” “Is my life aligning with the Bible?”. I quickly realized it wasn’t, and I knew I needed to make a change. One night in March 2021, I told God, “I am all in for you.” I repented from my sins and trusted Jesus on the cross. I realized he was worthy of my life. 

It’s been three years since I started following Jesus. Back then, I was lost, alone, heartbroken, anxious, and focused on chasing the world and its pleasures. I was lost in my sin, people’s opinion of me, and this world. Jesus found me at my lowest, and through his sweet grace alone, he saved me. Following Jesus is a challenging thing. I’ve had my share of struggles that only the Lord has seen. Fighting temptations, being stuck in sin, trying to work for his love, and many more. Through all of this, God has remained faithful and loving towards me. He has done this through his word, finding a Christian community and sanctifying my soul. 

I used to place my identity in sports, myself, sex, and this world. Jesus has shown me how worthy he is. How he is the joy of my life and that he is worthy of it all. Philippians 3:7-9 says, “I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless compared to the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord. For his sake, I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith”. Going all in for Jesus is the most critical decision I’ve ever made! Have you made this decision? What is stopping you?